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Human T‐cell clones in long‐term culture as a model of immunosenescence
Author(s) -
Pawelec Graham,
Rehbein Arnika,
Haehnel Karin,
Merl Andrea,
Adibzadeh Medi
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
immunological reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.839
H-Index - 223
eISSN - 1600-065X
pISSN - 0105-2896
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-065x.1997.tb01025.x
Subject(s) - immunosenescence , biology , immunology , phenotype , somatic cell , population , t cell , t lymphocyte , microbiology and biotechnology , immune system , genetics , medicine , environmental health , gene
Summary: We have consistently observed that like other normal somatic tissue cells, human T lymphocytes manifest a finite proliferative capacity in culture in vitro. When measured in population doublings (PD), this averages about 35 PD for T‐cell clones (TCC) derived from mature peripheral T cells of young adults and about 20 PD more for TCC derived from T‐cell precursors in their bone marrow. We believe that alterations in surface marker phenotypes and corresponding functional changes observed in these human TCC as they progress through their finite lifespans in vitro can provide valuable information on processes of T‐cell immunosenescence in vivo. They may also provide a model system for studying ways of modulating the ageing process to delay or prevent immunosenescence in the elderly and the chronically infected or possibly to accelerate immunosenescence in organ transplantation.